She looks damn mad as she says that. I’d wondered if she was listening this morning. Looks like she was.
“You did.”
Her cheeks flush. “I did not.”
“You’re the one who left, sweetheart.”
“I did not—” She sighs and rubs her fingers into her eyes. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. I have to go see to some things. If you decide you want me to call someone, let me know.”
I watch her leave the room and close the door behind her.
I’m a little woozy. And I’m damn tired.
Something tells me I’m going to be fucking sore tomorrow.
I hear someone walk into the room. It’s been a shitty night without much sleep. They x-rayed me, poked and prodded, then, after deciding I don’t have a concussion, left me alone just long enough to fall asleep again.
“Are you awake, Mr. Adler?”
It’s the doctor. I open one eye and grunt at him. “Sort of.”
“The good news is, nothing is broken—no internal bleeding. You’re going to be sore and have bruises for a while. I want you to be careful with the bruising. Don’t rub them; no massages. And take it easy. I don’t see any evidence of clots, but let’s keep it that way. I can prescribe you some pain medication—”
“No, thanks,” I interrupt him. “I’ll be fine with over-the-counter.”
He nods and makes a note. “I’ll get your paperwork finished up, and you can go in just a little while.”
How will I get home? My car is toast. I don’t know what time it is, but I’m quite sure everyone I know is sleeping.
Then, Josie walks into the room.
Bingo.
“Thank you,” I say to the doctor as he nods and walks out of the room. “Hey, Jose?”
“Yeah,” she says.
“Would you be willing to give me a ride home?”
She stops typing on her computer and turns to me with surprised brown eyes. “Me?”
“Well, sure. You’re here, and it’s late. Or, you know, early.”
“It’s almost six in the morning,” she replies.
“Holy shit, really? It doesn’t feel like I’ve been here that long.”
“You slept more than you think you did.” She sighs and snaps the computer shut. “Fine. I’m off work in fifteen minutes. I can drop you off at home.”
“Thanks. Really.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome.”
She blows out a breath and walks back out of the room. She may not be thrilled with this situation, but I’m elated to get to spend some time with her outside of this damn hospital.
Before long, she’s back with my discharge papers. She takes out the IV and gets me ready to leave.
“I have to clock out and grab my stuff,” she says after making sure that I’m good to go. “You stay right here and wait for me. I’ll be back in five minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I wink at her, but she only stomps away.
She makes my heart stutter, even when she’s mad.
Maybe especially when she’s mad. Some of the best sex we had was angry, make-up sex.
I might not be up to that today, but maybe I can talk her into it soon. She never could tell me no.
Until she did.
“Okay,” she says as she drapes her coat around her shoulders and sets some clothes on the end of my bed. “You’re wearing these hospital scrubs home. We had to cut the shirt off you.”
“It was just an old one anyway,” I say with a shrug, then wince with the movement.
The doc was right. I’m damn sore now that the morphine is wearing off.
“I’m going to walk you to the ambulance entrance and then pull around to get you. I don’t want you walking too far. Do you want me to get you a wheelchair?”
I scowl at her, completely offended. “No, I don’t need a wheelchair.”
“Suit yourself. Wait by the door, and I’ll be there in a few.”
“Whatever you want to do is fine by me.”
“Okay, we’ll take it easy.”
I’m so damn frustrated by how slow I have to walk.
“It could be worse,” Josie says when she sees the frustration on my face. “You could have broken a leg or something way, way worse.”
“I know. I just never considered that a few bruises could make my life a living hell.”
“Just wait until you try to lie down and sleep,” she says.
“Maybe I should have taken the drugs.”
“Wouldn’t have hurt for the first day or two,” she agrees. “I can ask the doctor to write the script real quick if you want before we leave.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“Men are so damn stubborn,” she mutters and leads me to a chair just inside the ambulance bay. “Okay, sit here and wait for me. Don’t be a hero and walk out to meet me.”
“I’m no hero today, honey,” I reply with a wink, grateful to sit in the chair. “I’ll be here.”
Josie hurries off, and I try to take a deep breath, but even that hurts.
Jesus, I’m in rough shape.